Road safety not a priority for companies

Road accidents have been identified as the main cause of work-related deaths in France. However, a French Ministry of Labour study found the subject of road safety and prevention of road accidents did not featured prominently in the health and safety strategy of most French companies. It is hoped the results of this research will be used to raise awareness of road safety issues so that prevention of road accidents becomes an integral part of training for French companies.

Background to study

Road accidents are the major cause of work-related deaths in France. According to a report (in French, 76Kb PDF) from the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Vocational Training and Social Dialogue, more than 57% of all fatal work-related injuries in France are sustained on the road, either while on a business trip or on the way to work. These figures prompted the ministry to declare tackling work-related road accidents a priority in improving occupational health and safety.

The labour inspectorate launched a campaign to analyse the extent to which road safety was part of the health and safety strategy of French companies. The study was limited to passenger cars and excluded heavy goods vehicles. Its main objectives were to:

• improve the prevention of work-related road accidents;

• raise awareness of existing tools to prevent accidents;

• monitor the obligations of companies in the prevention of work-related road accidents;

• ensure the risks of road accidents at work were integrated into companies’ health and safety strategies.

Assessing the risks

The National Agency for the Improvement of Working Conditions (ANACT) carried out 2,776 monitoring inspections between April and June 2011 (ANACT, 2012). These inspections focused on sectors with two specific characteristics. The first was a high rate of work-related accidents. The second was intensive use of passenger cars on both very short and long journeys, including at night. This part of the assessment included companies with workers who embarked on numerous planned or unplanned car trips.

The sectors identified as having these two characteristics were:

• construction and public works (64% of the inspections);

• maintenance (20%);

• nature protection and landscape conservation (8%);

• agriculture (8%).

The largest share of companies inspected were small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with 10–200 employees (62%), followed by workplaces with one to nine workers (34%). Large companies with more than 200 employees accounted for 4%. For 90% of all surveyed companies, the inspection was the first that aimed at assessing the work-related risks of road accidents.

Results

The study found that only 50% of companies in the survey had drafted an internal health and safety strategy that took into account the risk of road accidents and that only 44% had developed an action plan for the prevention of road accidents. Most risk prevention measures were of a technical nature, while changes in work organisation to minimise the risk of road accidents were less prominent (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Types of preventive action implemented in surveyed companies (%)

Source: Ministry of Labour, Employment, Vocational Training and Social Dialogue (2012)

In terms of managing everyday business, the study found that 36% of companies left it to their employees to manage delays or unexpected events, and only 12% allowed extra time delays.

In addition, only 25% of the surveyed companies provided hands-free car kits to allow their drivers to communicate with their head offices while driving. In over a third of cases (35%), employees were expected to return calls once they had stopped their vehicle. Employees were expected to redirect incoming calls to their voicemail while driving according to 11% of the respondents, while 29% stated that no rules were in place or employees were not aware of them (21% and 8% respectively).

Training issues

Although French labour laws compel companies to train employees on the prevention of risks on road and safety if they make regular use of motor vehicles at work, the study showed that 67% of the employees in all workplaces inspected had not received appropriate training (Figure 3).

Legislation is also in place that states that companies must inform and consult their Committee for Hygiene, Safety and Working Conditions (CHSCT) about their health and safety strategy, its implementation and changes. Only 24% of all companies questioned complied with these regulations, although 52% stated they did not have a CHSCT. Those without a CHSCT were mainly small workplaces with fewer than 50 employees for which setting up a CHSCT is not compulsory.

Figure 3: Types of road safety training received by employees at risk of having a road accident

Source: Ministry of Labour, Employment, Vocational Training and Social Dialogue (2012)

To help prevent road accidents, it is argued that the communication of risks by the occupational health service or the company medical officer is crucial but only a minority of companies do this (20% and 16% respectively).

Commentary

The study raises questions about the role of road safety in companies’ health and safety strategies. Particular questions are raised on risk prevention, compulsory training, work organisation, and the information and consultation of employee representation bodies. The results of this research have been sent to a number of relevant agencies and to the social partners at sectoral level. It is also hoped that there will be involvement from agencies at lower levels, in particular company management, as well as professional organisations and employee representatives in order to promote the implementation of road safety measures at company level.

References

ANACT (2012), Le risque routier n’est pas suffisamment considéré comme partie integrale de l’activité, press release 1 August 2012, National Agency for the Improvement of Working Conditions, Lyon.

Ministry of Labour, Employment, Vocational Training and Social Dialogue (2012), Synthèse des résultats de la campagne sur les risques routiers professionnels (76Kb PDF), Ministry of Labour, Employment, Vocational Training and Social Dialogue, Paris.

Sebastian Schulze-Marmeling, IRShare